The National Health Service turns 70 on 5 July and in celebration NHS England teamed up with Parkrun UK to host an NHS themed Parkrun on Saturday 9 June. Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals staff joined in with the celebrations at local Parkruns, including Clumber Park in Worksop and Sandall Park in Doncaster, and ran, jogged or walked the five kilometre route in celebration of the contribution of the NHS to the UK whilst also encouraging new participants to get more active.
With over 500 locations throughout the UK, Parkruns are volunteer-led five kilometre events that take place each Saturday morning in the UK and are open to walkers and runners of all ages and abilities.
Thousands of people across the UK took part in the NHS Parkruns with over 400 participants attending the Clumber Park event. Trust staff from secretaries to nurses to doctors took part in the Clumber Park Parkrun in Worksop dressed in NHS theatre scrubs. Congratulations to Michelle Cookson, Ward Manager at Bassetlaw Hospital, who was the first member of staff over the finish line in a time of 27:57, a new personal best for Michelle!
Suzy Brain England, Chair of the Board at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “I am very proud that so many of our staff took part in last weekend’s events. As we approach the 70th anniversary of the NHS, Parkruns are an excellent way to keep active, get fit and are free! With thousands of people taking part in the event it shows the pride we all feel for the NHS.”
On 5 July 1948, the NHS was launched by the then Health Secretary, Aneurin Bevan and for the first time, hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists were brought together under one umbrella to provide services for free at the point of delivery. Over the last 70 years, the NHS has transformed the health and wellbeing of the nation and become the envy of the world.
On the run up to the NHS 70th anniversary there are lots of events taking place locally. Flourish Enterprises, in partnership with the Trust and Rotherham Doncaster & South Humber NHS Foundation Trust and Doncaster Clinical Commission Group, are hosting a Summer Fayre on Sunday 8th July, 11am to 4pm, at Woodfield Park, Tickhill Road in Balby. There will be a host of interactive health stalls and displays and lots of family-friendly activities including face painting, bouncy castle, treasure trail, fun fair rides, 5 a-side football competitions and much more!
If you would like to get involved in fundraising for our hospitals we recently launched our very own charity, ‘Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity’ (DBTH Charity), making it easier for local people to support the Trust. For more information please contact the Communications Team on Tel: 01302 644244, email: DBTH.Charity@nhs.net or visit our website: www.dbth.nhs.uk/charity.